“Don’t say that,” urged the Secretary.
“Oh, but I mean that,” said Bella, raising her eyebrows.
“No one is useless in this world,” retorted the Secretary, “who lightens the burden of it for anyone else.”
“But I assure you I don’t , Mr. Rokesmith,” said Bella, half-crying.
“Not for your father?”
“Dear, loving, self-forgetting, easily-satisfied Pa! Oh, yes! He thinks so.”
“It is enough if he only thinks so,” said the Secretary. “Excuse the interruption: I don’t like to hear you depreciate yourself.”
“But you once depreciated me , sir,” thought Bella, pouting, “and I hope you may be satisfied with the consequences you brought upon your head!” However, she said nothing to that purpose; she even said something to a different purpose.
“ Mr. Rokesmith, it seems so long since we spoke together naturally, that I am embarrassed in approaching another subject. Mr. Boffin. You know I am very grateful to him; don’t you? You know I feel a true respect for him, and am bound to him by the strong ties of his own generosity; now don’t you?”
“Unquestionably. And also that you are his favourite companion.”
“That makes it,” said Bella, “so very difficult to speak of him. But—. Does he treat you well?”